Compare towns
North Brookfield vs Dudley vs Hardwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Brookfield has the most people working from home (13.1%).
Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | North Brookfield | Dudley | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,760 |
11,929Highest |
2,684Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2% MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±9.4 13% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
| Hardwick and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Dudley and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.3% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,285±$11k 24% below MA |
$84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
| Dudley and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $359,100±$32k 36% below MA |
$392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
| Dudley and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $981±$63Lowest 44% below MA |
$1,217±$182Highest 31% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
| Dudley and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,176 30% below MA |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,400Highest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±15.8 MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.9%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.3% MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 28% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| North Brookfield and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #270 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Brookfield | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Quabbin |
| High school in town | North Brookfield High | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 5.5Lowest |
14.3Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.